VW recalls ‘the tip of the iceberg’, says car reviewer

Volkswagen is covering up a whole
catalog of serious faults with its vehicles, says the car
review website dogandlemon.com.

Havelock North
medical practice manager Julia MacCallum narrowly avoided a
serious accident when her 2006 Volkswagen Golf suddenly lost
power just over 3 weeks ago.

“I was driving alone
between Taupo and Auckland. About 3km south of Putaruru,
my car lost power. A huge truck was speeding up towards me
from behind and I only just managed to pull over to get out
of its way. I am still stressed thinking about what could
have happened.”

“I had the car towed back to the
dealers who sold me the vehicle in 2011. They have told me
my high pressure fuel pump has ceased working. I could be
facing up to $5000 in repairs.”

MacCallum’s experience
was uncannily similar to an Australian fatality, which
occurred when a truck struck the rear of a Volkswagen Golf
which had apparently suddenly lost power.

In response to
an Australian coroner’s enquiry, and heavy public
pressure, Volkwagen reluctantly agreed to a limited ''active
service campaign'' for a number of the affected vehicles.
New Zealand is to be included in the campaign.

However,
the problem that affected MacCallum’s vehicle is not
covered by Volkswagen’s service campaign.

Matthew-Wilson
says bluntly:

“Volkswagen needs to take ownership of
these problems, and fix them. Otherwise they are risking
peoples’
lives.”

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